Politics
jrosenhouse | January 23, 2009If you have some time this weekend, be sure to read this magnificent article from Vanity Fair. It presents excerpts from intervies conducted withhundreds of Bush administration officials and other politically important individuals, going through the entire eight years of the presidency. If a fiction writer devised a short story along these lines, no one would believe it. The article is quite long, so be certain you are in a comfy chair and have a nice beverage before starting. It's hard to capture the spirit of the article in just a few quotes, but here's a taste:
February 14, 2002 The…
catdynamics | January 23, 2009Situation in Iceland is getting worse every day.
PM is out; fish exports are down sharply because of lack of buyers - partly lack of credit by European importers, partly economic collapse in eastern and southern Europe - this could crush any prospect for short term recovery.
Larger protests every day, with pattern of escalation - torches and teargas stage right now.
After violence earlier this week the protest organiser asked people to go home so that weekend drinking wouldn't lead to the situation getting out of hand tonight.
So, it is quiet tonight in Iceland.
But tomorrow is protest…
gregladen | January 23, 2009I don't pretend to understand everything I see.
HIGH-FIVE INAUGURATION! - watch more funny videos
pharyngula | January 23, 2009Obama is about to lift the gag order that prohibited federal funds going to international groups that performed abortions.
He has ordered a review of all of Bush's last-minute policy acts, stopping them cold.
And look at this:
President Obama is expected to loosen the restrictions [on stem cell research], which many researchers and advocates have complained severely set back work toward curing disease such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes.
Okarma said Geron did not use any federal funding for its research, and that the Bush restrictions had "devastated the field."
This is something…
j7uy5 | January 23, 2009This is precious. It is a screen shot from The Economist, from an article (The frat boy ships out) on the departure of George W. Bush.
I recall that The Economist ended up endorsing Kerry, saying something
like it was a tough call between two deeply flawed candidates.
Now, not so tough.
It turned out to be the third-most "commented" article, gathering 338 comments, and being recommended by 282 readers.
grrlscientist | January 23, 2009tags: politics, GW, George Bush, humor, funny, streaming video
This hilarious video features a toddler who recounts all the lessons that GW taught her -- and the nation -- during his eight years as the illegal White House resident [1:08]
clock | January 22, 2009This is the question that Seed is asking:
Restoring science to its rightful place in government and in society will be no simple task: it will demand fresh ideas, the engagement of America's scientists and engineers, the re-engagement of the public, and the collaboration of other cultural and social communities. It will not happen overnight, but we will witness in 2009 a U-turn back to the future. History will call this the birth of our scientific renaissance.
And you are all encouraged to respond, in any format you like:
Seed and SEEDMAGAZINE.COM have invited responses to the question from…
ddobbs | January 22, 2009"If I have to be male, I was hoping for a younger, more fit body, and a better head of hair. It does however fulfill one of my greatest fantasies, which is that I have long had subpoena envy."
New Yorker writer Jane Mayer, author of "The Dark Side," who has done much to expose the Bush Administration's torture policies, on being transformed on "24" into a pesky anti-torture Senator.
via Jeffrey Goldbergl; hat tip to Mike the Mad Biologist.
Is that a web at work, or what?
amillikan | January 22, 2009President Obama's inaugural address yesterday was met with enthusiasm by ScienceBloggers, who were particularly pleased by his promise to "restore science to its rightful place." But it was the inclusion of "non-believers" among the nation's religions that prompted the most discussion.William Connolley of Stoat called it "a token nod" in the midst of a mostly religious ceremony, while PZ Myers of Pharyngula thought it to be "a small thing, but appreciated."
pharyngula | January 22, 2009I have my reservations about Obama, but I am seeing clear differences between him and the previous tenant of the White House already — good changes.
US President Barack Obama is expected to announce that he is ordering the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp within a year.
He is also expected to order a ban on abusive interrogations and a review of military trials for terror suspects.
Why do I suddenly feel this unfamiliar sensation? Is this what they call "hope"?
purepedantry | January 22, 2009Health-infrastructure, information technology, and science research spending are clearly related to the success of our economy. They represent investments into intellectual property and human capital that increase productivity and create long-term growth. For this reason, I don't object to the government spending money on them as a matter of policy.
But Gary Becker makes an interesting point with respect to the economic stimulus package. While such spending may be important for long-term growth, it's effectiveness as a short-term growth measure may be limited:
The stimulus package's plans…
catdynamics | January 21, 2009Downtown DC shortly before noon, 20th January 2009
click to embiggen (big - 8kx8k ~ 10Mb)>A
h/t Jessica
catdynamics | January 21, 2009Iceland shows the world the way.
the revolution will be twittered
The Heat is On - Eiríkur Bergmann's grauniad article on civil unrest in Iceland.
Newsfrettir has more - interesting sequence of pictures...
Hey, I think that is my cousin storming the "United Left" meeting at the National Theater.
Heard they missed the torching of the christmas tree at the east square by Alþingi...
The head of the National Bank was carried out of her office; the Prime Minister's car stormed; the police are in riot gear and being taunted; and flash mobs are gathering.
Very sloppy
Right now it is torches (well…
revere | January 21, 2009Some people noticed a remarkable thing that happened on the Washington Mall on Sunday at the Obama pre-Inaugural concert, a part of which I posted on Tuesday. The second last appearance was by Pete Seeger, his grandson Tao and Bruce Springsteen singing Woody Guthrie's This Land is Your Land. What made it remarkable is the inclusion of three verses from the original version that are rarely heard under any circumstances and never heard in the corridors of power, much less in front of a world wide audience and in the presence and in honor of someone about to ascend to the Presidency of the…
ddobbs | January 21, 2009
An impressive list of (mostly overlooked) readings about Obama, from Neuroanthropology.
I kept wondering yesterday why, along with being deeply moved while watching the ceremonies, I a deep sense of dread and foreboding. Narrowed it to three things:
- a sadness my mother (who died soon after 9/11) wasn't around to see this, as she would have been immensely moved
and more important:
- Obama looked so utterly alone and somber as he came up the hall and then waited in his chair. He so clearly recognizes the magnitude of the burden he takes on -- a burden heavier because he has defined the task…
drorzel | January 21, 2009Lots of people are giving Obama props for the shout-out to atheists in his inaugural address, but I'm deeply concerned about what he said. Or, rather, what he didn't say:
We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and non-believers.
Where are the Buddhists? He left out a major world religion!
"Oh, well, what harm can it do?" you may be thinking. "There aren't that many Buddhists in the US, after all, and they're not really concerned with worldly things." This is a dangerously naive view of the world.
If pop culture teaches us anything, it's don't mess with the Buddhists.…
grrlscientist | January 21, 2009tags: inauguration, president obama, politics, television, presidential speech, streaming video
Oh, joy!
President Barack Obama took the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States and delivered an inaugural address focusing on the themes of sacrifice and renewal yesterday afternoon (20 January 2009). This video shows both [21:50]
I wept as I watched President Obama be sworn in and deliver his inaugural speech. For the first time in my life, I feel that the United States -- as a nation -- might not be irredeemably greedy, malicious and short-sighted.
evolvingthoughts | January 20, 2009It's nearly 4 am here so a quick note: The whole thing looked and sounded like a very twee Protestant church service, including the "Lord of the Dance" crapola barely redeemed by the performers.I was waiting for the puppet show for the kids...
[Later note] Okay, maybe I was a bit jaded. I find the Protestant trappings rather distasteful - don't they have churches for that kind of thing? And the "and nonbelievers" thing - why is that an advance? A significant segment of the American population is being defined solely as what they are not. PZ Mosspit is right that something like "freethinkers"…
ddobbs | January 20, 2009Off my usual route -- but isn't Obama on everyone's today?
Much to admire in the man. Seems almost too much to ask that his signature could be so attractive as well. But there it is. This is from the first proclamation he signed soon after taking office.
That's from Reuters . Another site has signatures of all the previous presidents.
purepedantry | January 20, 2009I am the type of person who is pretty skeptical of broad claims made by anyone. I am a scientist after all.
But I am especially skeptical of all statements made by politicians. If there is anything the past 8 years has taught me is that whenever everyone is rapt in enthusiasm, that is the time when you have to be the most skeptical.
So I try to temper my optimism about Obama with a deliberate skepticism.
I do see his promise. I see his commitment to something approaching sane and honorable government. I see a man committed to what most would consider reasonable governance. Further, he…